Gowling WLG‘s ’very strong specialist pensions litigation team' is led by the ‘intelligent and astute’ Ian Gordon, who is especially experienced in handling complex issues involving occupational pension schemes. The 'truly impressive' wider practice's workload includes assisting clients in High Court-level disputes; advising on professional negligence cases, work for which legal director Charlotte Scholes is a key contact; and assisting clients in the resolution of Pensions Ombudsman cases namely regarding claims and disputes with members. Associate Aaron Dunning-Foreman is experienced advising on issues relating to complex data breaches in a pensions context.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘A very strong specialist pensions litigation team.’
‘The practice is very ably led by Ian Gordon who is an intelligent and astute litigator with a good knowledge of technical pensions law.'
‘The team has always fully engaged with us as clients from the point of referral and kept us informed of progress throughout. Their knowledge of the subject matter provides us with confidence that we are in good hands.’
‘Not only are they knowledgeable on the legal subject matter, but they also can put it into a commercial context. They have good knowledge of the overall pensions landscape.’
‘Gowlings' is a truly expert pensions team - they offer breadth of experience across pensions advisory and disputes work. They take a commercial and pragmatic approach to their advice and litigation.’
‘Ian Gordon is one of the stars of pensions litigation with a huge amount of experience acquired in leading cases.’
‘What sets the team apart is their unwavering commitment to ensuring excellent communication throughout the entire process. They have consistently kept me informed, addressing any concerns promptly and effectively. It is evident that their expertise extends beyond legal matters, as they possess a deep understanding of the broader implications and practicalities involved in pension law.’
‘Their wealth of knowledge in the field is truly impressive, encompassing both the intricate nuances of the substantive law and a comprehensive understanding of UK pension plans.’

Key clients

Mitchells & Butlers Pensions Limited
Britvic Pensions Limited
CGI IT UK Limited
The Trustees of the Thales UK Pension Scheme
The Trustee of KPMG Staff Pension Fund
Croydon Borough Council
Virgin Media Limited
Government of Canada
The Trustees of the Debenhams Retirement Benefit Scheme
The Very Group Limited
Punter Southall Governance Services
Ross Trustees
BESTrustees
Independent Trustee Services
Zedra
PAN Trustees

Work highlights

Acted for the successful employer in litigation involving the CMG UK Pension Scheme.
Acted for the London Borough of Croydon in its dispute with Oasis Community Learning concerning the way employer contribution rates are set for participating employers of Croydon's part of the Local Government Pension Scheme where a maintained school converted to an academy under the Academies Act 2010.